In the cutthroat world of branding, emotions reign supreme.

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Here are five audacious tactics to inject raw emotion into your brand's messaging:

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1. Bluntly call out the emotion

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Don't dance around it—call out the exact emotion your product alleviates. Whether it's frustration, boredom, or ecstasy, state it boldly. This is emotional branding 101, yet shockingly overlooked by most.

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Incredibly, too many companies shy away from this essential step in emotional branding. It works shockingly well because, hilariously, most brands don't do it. They choose clever over clear.

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Always choose the latter.

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2. Exaggerate the emotion 100x‍

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Push the boundaries of reality. Amplify the agony your product eradicates or the euphoria it induces to an absurd level, far beyond what anybody would experience in the real world.

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Yes, it's hyperbolic, but it captures attention and forges an unbreakable link between emotion and your brand.

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3. Create outlandish scenarios with your product and that emotion‍

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Take the extreme scenarios of emotional turmoil and apply it to an absurd, impossible or unlikely use case — like an exasperated emperor penguin navigating a broken HR system in an Antarctic colony with your software.

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The sheer absurdity grabs attention and fosters empathy.

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Your audience will know that this is ridiculous, but they'll instinctively seek out the message you're trying to get across, and associate it with positive feelings of making them laugh.

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‍4. Illuminate the dark side to show your beautiful world

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Paint a vivid picture of the consequences of ignoring the emotion your product tackles. Show the bleak reality without sugarcoating it. Let your audience feel the weight of their emotions, compelling them to seek your solution.

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But the way you take this to the next level and do it better than other brands?

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Don't describe that beautiful world whatsoever. When your audience paints it themselves, they'll design it as perfection in their own unique way. And your brand will be associated that with that.

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It's an extra level of emotional depth that brands don't reach because they're obsessed with focusing on their product, instead of using the customers' imagination.

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5. Extreme minimalism as a weapon‍

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Strip your messaging down to its bare bones. Share minimalist videos of your product in action, accompanied only by music and the visceral journey of your customer's emotions. That's it.

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No slogans, no words, no fluff, just pure emotional resonance. This minimalist approach cuts through the noise and leaves an indelible mark on your audience's psyche.

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Tough to pull off, but hugely powerful if you resist the urge to add elements to your message.

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In the battleground of startup branding, bold emotional messaging isn't just an option—it's a required tool for commanding attention and forging lasting connections with your audience.

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Try one of these tactics in your next ad campaign, and I guarantee your engagement will soar.